HAMILTON — Nearly 700 students graduated during Colgate University's 201st Commencement Ceremony on Sunday, May 22, 2022 at the  Sanford Field House.

 

Hundreds more friends and family members watched on in person and via live-stream.

 

"We are here today...for the purpose of recognizing your achievements (and) celebrating your triumphs," stated Colgate University President Brian Casey to the students in his opening remarks. He noted that at the same time the class of 2022 was pursing their degrees, they also faced complex, sometimes overwhelming events including, "difficult national elections, a profound racial reckoning in the country, and of course, a global pandemic that fundamentally altered your time here, and your lives. All of our lives."

 

The commencement address was given by two-time Pulitzer Prize winner, New York Times critic, and podcast co-host Wesley Morris. His speech focused on the power of nostalgia and the necessity of moving forward.

 

"Right now, you all, the Colgate Class of 2022, you're about to leave a moment that some of you might spend the rest of your lives trying to get back to," Morris reflected. He encouraged listeners to enjoy the moments or experiences that bring them back to their days on campus, but not to get lost yearning for the past.